Landscape soil does several jobs at once: it anchors roots, holds moisture and nutrients, and supports the organisms that keep nutrients cycling. Biochar can strengthen these functions, making it a useful part of soil care for trees, shrubs, lawns, and planting beds. 1
Biochar is a carbon-rich material made by heating biomass with limited oxygen. Not all biochars are the same: the source material and production process shape their pores and chemistry. 1 At Wakefield, we make biochar from woody biomass, including pre-consumer wood residuals. This gives wood left over from other operations a useful role in soil improvement. 2
Building a better environment for roots
Soil structure connects many of biochar’s benefits. The spaces within and between soil particles influence how water and air move, where roots can grow, and how much moisture stays in the root zone. Adding porous biochar can change that arrangement, increasing pore space and reducing soil density. 3
Holding water where plants can use it
Those changes in pore space also affect water storage. Water can occupy pores within biochar and spaces between biochar and soil particles, helping keep moisture available to roots between rainfall and watering. 4
Soil texture helps explain where this benefit is most pronounced. A review of soil-water studies found greater water-retention gains in coarse, sandy soils. In finer soils, changes in water movement and drainage were also important. These differences connect soil structure with water management: both the amount of water held and how it moves through the root zone matter. 4
Our Learning Center article on biochar and soil water retention explores water storage, drainage, and irrigation in more detail.
Supporting nutrients and soil life
Along with moisture, roots need a steady supply of nutrients. Biochar can increase the soil’s capacity to hold some nutrients, helping retain resources supplied through the wider fertility program. A review of 59 studies found improvements in nutrient holding capacity and changes in soil microbial diversity. The response varied with the biochar and soil. 3
Many biochars also raise soil pH, which can be useful in acidic soils. Matching the product’s pH and nutrient characteristics to a soil test helps it fit the plants and planting area. 1 Another Learning Center article, “Is Biochar a Fertilizer?,” explains how biochar works alongside nutrient inputs.
Adding long-term carbon storage
Biochar also brings a benefit beyond growing conditions. Plants capture carbon as they grow, and making biochar converts some of that carbon into a form that resists decomposition. A portion can remain stored in soil over the long term. 5
The amount stored depends on the biochar and soil conditions. Measuring the net climate benefit also accounts for emissions from production, transport, and application. This connects landscape soil improvement with a broader opportunity to keep carbon stored through the useful life of the material. 5
Bringing the benefits into your landscape
Start with the role biochar will play in your project: retaining moisture, improving the soil around roots, or supporting nutrient management. Soil information and product guidance help you choose the material and plan its placement as part of planting, renovation, or ongoing landscape care.
For application steps, read how to use biochar for landscaping. To explore product choices and project quantities, visit Wakefield’s landscaping and turf solutions.
Sources and notes
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Soil Restoration with Biochar 2024. Soil functions, biochar properties, and soil response. View Source ↩
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Product specifications and feedstock information ↩
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Biochar applications influence soil physical and chemical properties, microbial diversity, and crop productivity: a meta-analysis 2022. View Source ↩
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A meta-analysis on biochar’s effects on soil water properties 2020. Author manuscript. View Source ↩
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Biomass residue to carbon dioxide removal: quantifying the global impact of biochar 2023. View Source ↩
